Britain's Straw: Iraq Is Not Cooperating

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, January 26, 2003

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Monday the weapons inspectors' report presented in the United Nations shows Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is "making a charade of inspection."

Straw said the report showed "clear evidence that Saddam Hussein is not engaged in effective cooperation. He is practicing concealment."

Speaking after a meeting European Union foreign ministers, Straw said the current U.N. resolution authorizing the inspections "was and is the final opportunity to comply."

Straw's comments came after the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte said he had heard nothing from the weapons inspectors' report that "gives us any hope that Iraq will disarm" voluntarily to remove the need for the United States to take military action.

"They are not cooperating unconditionally. In the days ahead, we believe the council and its member governments must face its responsibilities," Negroponte said.

Britain has been the United States' most vocal supporter in Europe in demanding that Saddam disarm or face a military strike.

"This is very serious indeed," Straw said. "I hope they (the Iraqis) will receive the message."

He reiterated that Iraq must fully and effectively comply with U.N. disarmament demands.

Straw was the first of the EU ministers to react to the reports presented in New York by weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei.

"Time has almost run out, if this failure to comply continues then Iraq will have to face serious consequences," Straw said.

However, he said "further and careful digestion of what the inspectors have said" will be needed before a decision is taken on the next steps.